ObjectiveTo investigate the treatment outcome of applying venous Flow-through flap in the replantation of severed finger with circularity soft tissue defect and vascular defect. MethodsBetween January 2010 and December 2012,11 cases (11 fingers) of severed finger with circularity soft tissue defect and vascular defect underwent replantation with venous Flow-through flaps.There were 8 males and 3 females,aged 18-42 years (mean,24.6 years).The cause of injury was squeeze injury in 6 cases,crush injury in 3 cases,and strangulation in 2 cases.Combined injuries included nerve defect in 3 cases (1.0,2.0,and 3.5 cm in length),and tendon defect in 2 cases (2.0 and 6.5 cm in length); cyclic skin and soft tissue defect was 3.0-4.5 cm in width,was 1/2-1 finger circumference in length,and was 2.0 cm×1.0 cm to 7.0 cm×4.5 cm in size.Six cases had complete circular defect (both finger artery and vein defects),and 5 cases had incomplete circular defect (only finger artery defect),and vascular defect was 1.0-4.5 cm in length.The time from injury to operation was 1.5-4.5 hours. ResultsVenous crisis occurred in 1 case at 2 days after operation,was cured after vein graft; flap edge necrosis was observed in 2 cases and was cured after dressing change and skin grafting respectively; flap edema and blister occurred in 2 cases and relieved spontaneously.The other 6 flaps and replanted fingers survived completely,with primary healing of incision.Ten cases were followed up 12-18 months (mean,15.5 months).Only a linear scar was seen at the donor sites,with no functional limitation.The flaps had similar color and texture to adjacent skin.The two-point discrimination was 6.5-13.0 mm (mean,8.6 mm).According to replanted finger function scoring system of Society of Hand Surgery of Chinese Medical Association,the results were excellent in 6 cases,good in 3 cases,and poor in 1 case at last follow-up,and the excellent and good rate was 90%. ConclusionVenous Flow-through flap can repair both vascular defect and soft tissue defect,so it has good outcome in increasing the survival rate of replanted finger for severed finger replantation with circularity soft tissue defect and vascular defect.
Objective To explore the results of repairing widespread traumatic soft tissue defects in the heels and adjacent regions with free latissimus dorsi muscle-skin flaps. Methods From March 1998 to May 2005, 10 cases of widespread traumatic soft tissue defects in the heels and adjacent regions were repaired with free latissimus dorsi muscleskin flaps. Of the 10 patients, 9 were male and 1 was female, whose ages ranged from 32 to 60years, and the disease course was 2 hours to 2 months. The defect was by ploughmachine injury in 5 cases, by crush injury in 2 cases, by snake injury in 2 cases, and electricity injury in 1 case. Eight cases of defects involved in the posteriorof heel and leg, the defect area ranged from 21 cm×12 cm to 35 cm×15 cm; 2 cases had widespread soft tissue defects on heel, ankle, sole and dorsal foot, and the defect area was 27 cm×14 cm and 30 cm×21 cm respectively. All cases were accompanied by the exposure of bone; 6 cases by fracture; 4 cases by openinfection of ankle joint; and 2 cases by injuries of the posterior tibial vessel and the tibial nerve. The sizes of the dissected flap ranged from 25 cm×14 cm to 33 cm×24 cm. The donor sites were covered by large mid-thickness flap. Results There were no postoperative complication of vascular crisis and infection. Ten flaps survived completely and the wounds healed by first intention. After a follow-up of 3 to 24 months, five cases received twostageplastic operation because bulky flaps bring some trouble in wearing shoes. In 5cases of reconstructed sensation, two cases recovered pain and temperature sensation. All cases recovered the abilities to stand and walk without ulcer complication. Conclusion The free latissimus dorsi muscle-skin flap is an ideal flap for repairing widespread traumatic soft tissue defects and infectious wounds with muscle defects and bone exposure in the heel and adjacent regions, because it has such advantages as adequate blood supply, big dermatomic area, and excellent ability to resist infection.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of repairing hallux metatarsophalangeal skin and soft tissue defect with medial flap with double blood supply system in elderly patients. Methods Between June 2011 and March 2012, 9 cases (9 toes) of skin and soft tissue defect at hallux metatarsophalangeal joint were treated with medial flap with double blood supply system. There were 7 males and 2 females, aged 60-70 years (mean, 65.4 years). Injury included crush injury in 5 cases, traffic accident injury in 4 cases. The interval of injury and operation ranged from 3 hours to 5 days (mean, 35 hours). The patients had bone or tendon exposure with pollution of wounds. The size of defects ranged from 2.0 cm × 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm × 2.0 cm. The size of flaps ranged from 2.0 cm × 1.7 cm to 3.0 cm × 2.2 cm. Medial dorsal nerves were anastomosed with toe nerves to recover flap sensation. The donor site was repaired with skin grafting. Results All 9 flaps and skin grafting survived completely, and primary healing of wounds were obtained. Nine patients were followed up 6-8 months (mean, 7 months). The colour, texture, and contour of the flaps were good. The two-point discrimination of the flaps was 12-16 mm (mean, 14 mm) at last follow-up. The patients could walk normally. No scar contracture formed at donor site. No wear occurred. Conclusion The medial flap with double blood supply system can be used to repair hallux metatarsophalangeal skin and soft tissue defect in elderly patients because the flap can be easily obtained, has good blood supply, and has no injury to the main artery and nerve.
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of free lobed perforator flaps in repairing of complex wounds of limbs. Methods Between January 2018 and January 2021, 10 patients with complex wounds of limbs were admitted. There were 7 males and 3 females, aged from 32 to 64 years, with an average age of 45 years. There were 4 cases of traffic accident injuries, 3 cases of machine strangulation injuries, 1 case of machine crush injury, and 2 cases of heavy object crush injuries. There were 5 cases of upper limb wounds and 5 cases of lower limb wounds. The size of wounds ranged from 11 cm×10 cm to 25 cm×18 cm. The wounds were repaired with tri-lobed flaps of the descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery in 7 cases, four-lobed flaps in 2 cases, and with tri-lobed flaps of the descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery combined with oblique branch in 1 case. The size of flaps ranged from 12.0 cm×10.5 cm to 28.0 cm×12.0 cm. The donor sites were sutured directly in 9 cases and repaired with superficial iliac circumflex artery perforator flap in 1 case. ResultsSinus formed at the edge of the flap in 1 patient, which healed after dressing change and drainage; other flaps survived well, and the wounds healed by first intention. The skin flap at donor site survived, and the incisions healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 6-24 months (mean, 11 months). All flaps had good appearance and function, and linear scars were left at the donor site without obvious complications. ConclusionFree lobed perforator flap is an alternative method to repair complex wounds of limbs with high safety, good effectiveness, and less complications.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of abdominal free flap carrying bilateral superficial circumflex iliac arteries for repairing large skin and soft tissue defects of foot and ankle.MethodsBetween June 2016 and June 2019, 15 patients with large skin and soft tissue defects of foot and ankle were admitted, including 10 males and 5 females with an average age of 30 years (range, 10-60 years). The causes of injury included 6 cases of traffic accident, 3 cases of machine strangulation, 3 cases of heavy object injury, 2 cases of fall, and 1 case of electric shock. The time from injury to admission was 3 hours to 10 days, with an average of 2 days. The wound located at dorsal foot in 5 cases, ankle in 6 cases, dorsal foot and ankle in 3 cases, and dorsal foot and sole in 1 case. All wounds were contaminated to varying degrees and accompanied by tendon and bone exposure, including 5 cases of extensive necrosis of the dorsal skin with infection. The area of defects ranged from 18 cm×6 cm to 25 cm×8 cm. There were 9 cases of foot and ankle fractures and dislocations, and 2 cases of foot and ankle bone defects. The wound was repaired with abdominal free flap carrying bilateral superficial circumflex iliac arteries. The area of the flaps ranged from 20 cm×8 cm to 27 cm×10 cm; the skin flaps were thinned under the microscope to make the thickness of 0.5-1.0 cm, with an average of 0.7 cm. All incisions at the donor site were sutured directly.ResultsDuring the operation, 1 case was replaced with an abdominal free flap carrying the superficial abdominal artery because the superficial iliac circumflex artery was thin and the superficial abdominal artery was thicker. The skin flaps of 15 cases survived smoothly, and the wounds healed by first intention; the donor incisions all healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 8-36 months, with an average of 15 months. The flap shape was satisfactory, with good texture and mild pigmentation of the flap edge, without obvious bloating, effect on shoe wear, or secondary surgical thinning of the flap. The linear scar left in the donor site and had no effect on hip joint movement. All fractures healed well, and the healing time ranged from 3 to 8 months, with an average of 6 months.ConclusionThe abdominal free flap carrying bilateral superficial iliac circumflex arteries has concealed donor site, with little damage, and can be sutured in one stage. The blood vessel is anatomically constant, with less variation, and reliable blood supply. It is one of the ideal flaps for repairing large skin and soft tissue defects of foot and ankle.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of tissue flap grafting and sequential bone lengthening for repairing severe soft tissue and bone defects of the lower extremity after burn injury. Methods Between January 2010 and December 2015, 11 cases of large segmental bone and soft tissue defects in the leg were treated. There were 10 males and 1 female, with a mean age of 28 years (range, 19-37 years). The causes included traffic accident in 8 cases, high voltage electric burn in 2 cases, CO poisoning burn in 1 case. The time from injury to admission was 3-14 days (mean, 6.5 days). The bone defect length was 8-18 cm (mean,14 cm); the skin soft tissue defect ranged from 13 cm × 8 cm to 25 cm × 19 cm. After complete removal of necrotic tissue and lesions of the femur or the tibia, the tissue flaps were used to repair soft tissue defect of the lower extremity in one-stage operation; bone defect was treated by Orthofix single side external fixation or Ilizarov ring external fixation in two-stage operation. Results Eleven flaps survived completely, primary healing of incision was obtained in the others except for 1 patient who had necrotic bone infection, which was cured after removing necrosed femoral bone and filling with antibiotic bone cement spacer. During bone lengthening, pin tract infection occurred in 1 patient, and infection was controlled after dressing change. Bone lengthening ranged from 8 to 18 cm, with an average of 14 cm. After prolonged extension, the external fixator was retained for 4-12 months (mean, 6.5 months). All bone defects were repaired with bone healing time of 12-22 months (mean, 17 months). All patients were followed up 8-24 months (mean, 15 months). No vascular and neurological complication occurred during operation; no osteomyelitis or re-fracture occurred after operation, and the recovery of the lower extremity function was good. Conclusion Tissue flap grafting combined with bone lengthening is an effective method to repair severe bone and soft tissue defects of lower extremity.
Objective To investigate the technique and effectiveness of using narrow hypodermal pedicled retroauricular flap for repairing preauricular soft tissue defect. Methods Between June 2008 and July 2011, 11 cases of preauricular soft tissue defect were treated, which were caused by resection of preauricular tumors, including 5 cases of pigmented nevus, 2 cases of basal cell carcinoma, 2 cases of mixed hemangioma, and 2 cases of skin papilloma. There were 7 males and 4 females, aged from 26 to 75 years (mean, 50 years). The disease duration was 3-50 years (mean, 35 years). The size ofthe soft tissue defect ranged from 1.5 cm × 1.0 cm to 3.5 cm × 3.0 cm. The narrow hypodermal pedicled retroauricular flap was designed with its pedicle along the pathway of the superficial temporal artery and posterior auricular artery through tunnel to repair the defects. The size of the flaps ranged from 1.8 cm × 1.3 cm to 3.8 cm × 3.3 cm with the pedicle of 2-5 cm in length and 0.4-0.7 cm in width. The donor site was sutured directly or repaired with local flap. Results All flaps survived and incisions healed primarily after operation. Eight cases were followed up 6 months to 1 year. The flaps had good texture, flexibil ity, and color, and the auricle appearance was satisfactory. No recurrence of tumor was found. Conclusion The narrow hypodermal pedicled retroauricular flap has long and narrow pedicle, big transferring angle, large repairing area, no major blood vessel, and easy operation, so it is a simple and ideal technique for repairing preauricular soft tissue defect.
Objective?To introduce a new method of flap design and to investigate the feasibility of the clinical application.?Methods?Between April 2006 and November 2009, 89 patients with skin and soft tissue defects were treated. There were 47 males and 42 females with an average age of 36 years (range, 16-67 years). The injuries were caused by machine crush (38 cases), electric saw (16 cases), electricity (8 cases), traffic accident (18 cases), rolling machine (3 cases), and crash of heavy object (6 cases). The locations were forearm in 4 cases, palm in 23 cases, finger in 41 cases, lower leg in 7 cases, and dorsum of foot in 14 cases. All the cases complicated by exposure of tendons or bones. The time from injury to hospitalization was 30 minutes to 5 days (mean, 3 hours). The areas of skin and soft tissue defect ranged from 2.0 cm × 1.5 cm to 26.0 cm × 18.0cm. The wounds were repaired with the pedicle flaps in 72 cases and the free flaps in 17 cases. All the flaps were designed with eight-point-location method. A trapezoid was made in the raw surface and the four vertexes of the trapezoid were on the edge of the raw surface. The exterior points of the heights of arciforms were made on the edge of the raw surface too. The eight points were the labelling points. The top width, the bottom width, the height of the trapezoid, and the heights of the arciforms could be measured. The above numerus were expanded 5%-10%. The expanded numerus were the corresponding numerus of the skin flap. The size of flaps ranged from 2.2 cm × 1.7 cm to 28.5 cm × 19.5cm. The donor sites were closed directly in 17 cases, and repaired with skin grafts in 72 cases.?Results?All the flaps were successfully dissected according to flap design. When the flaps were transplanted to the wounds, tension of the flaps was appropriate. All the flaps and skin grafts survived. The wounds and incisions at donor sites healed by first intention. Eighty-nine patients were followed up 6 to 26 months (mean, 20 months). The texture, appearance, flexibility, and function of the flaps were satisfactory, and no complication occurred. The sensory restoration of the pedicle flaps were graded as S3-S4.?Conclusion?It is an ideal and simple method to design flap using eight-point-location method. The flaps are precise in the figure and area.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of the lower abdominal conjoined flap with bilateral superficial inferior epigastric arteries (SIEA) for repairing the large soft tissue defects on the foot and ankle. Methods The clinical data of 18 patients with large soft tissue defects on foot and ankle treated between October 2017 and January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, including 12 males and 6 females; the age ranged from 25 to 62 years, with a median age of 35 years. The causes of injury included machine injury in 9 cases, traffic accident injury in 5 cases, cutting injury in 2 cases, and electric injury in 2 cases. All wounds were accompanied by exposure of blood vessels, tendons, bones, and joints. Wound located at ankle in 8 cases, dorsum of foot in 6 cases, and sole in 4 cases. In the emergency department, complete debridement (the defect area after debridement was 15 cm×10 cm to 25 cm×16 cm) and vacuum sealing drainage on the wound was performed. The time from debridement to flap repair was 3-10 days, with an average of 5 days. According to the defect location and scope, the lower abdominal conjoined flap with bilateral SIEA was prepared. The size of the flap ranged from 15 cm×10 cm to 25 cm×16 cm. The length of vascular pedicle was 4.5-7.5 cm, with an average of 6.0 cm; the thickness of the flap was 0.5-1.2 cm, with an average of 0.8 cm. The abdominal donor site was closed in one-stage. Results One flap was altered as the conjoined flap with the bilateral superficial circumflex iliac artery because of the absence of the SIEA in one side. Except for 1 case of skin flap with distal necrosis, the flap healed after two-stage skin grafting repair; the rest skin flaps survived, and the wounds of the donor and recipient sites all healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 12-28 months, with an average of 16 months. The skin flap had a satisfactory appearance and soft texture, without abnormal hair growth or obvious pigmentation. Only linear scars were left at the donor site, and no complication such as abdominal hernia occurred. The foot and ankle function was satisfactory. At last follow-up, the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores were rated as excellent in 16 cases and good in 2 cases. Conclusion The lower abdominal conjoined flap with bilateral SIEA is an ideal flap for repairing large defects of foot and ankle with less morbidity scarcely, which ascribed to its ease of dissection, adjustable thinness, and concealed donor site, as well as the flexible perforator match.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of self-made limb chronic wound closure device in the treatment of scarred lower limbs and complex skin and soft tissue defects.MethodsBetween January 2014 and January 2017, 29 patients with complex fractures of the lower extremities and skin and soft tissue defects were treated. There were 19 males and 10 females with an average age of 31.1 years (range, 21-66 years). The causes of injury included 14 cases of traffic accidents, 5 cases of falling from height, 4 cases of heavy object crushing injury, 4 cases of mechanical crushing injury, and 2 cases of exposed steel plate after fracture. There were 26 cases of calf fracture and skin defect, 3 cases of metatarsal bone fracture and skin defect of the foot. The skin defect ranged from 5 cm×3 cm to 18 cm×8 cm. The time from injury to admission was 5-31 days, with an average of 14.3 days. All patients underwent a thorough debridement, open wound drainage, self-made chronic wound closure device combined with Ilizarov stretching technique for a slow skin and soft tissue traction. After the wound was cleaned up and the granulation tissue was freshened, the skins on both sides were closed, and then proceed to the second stage operation of skin grafting or direct suture closure based on the size of the wound.ResultsAll patients were followed up 8-20 months, with an average of 13 months. Twenty-nine patients were treated with self-made chronic wound closure device combined with Ilizarov technique for 1-2 times with an average of 1.3 times, then the wound infection was controlled and the granulation tissue grew well. In the course of treatment, the pain was not obvious and the patients had good compliance. All patients’ wounds healed clinically without skin traction complications and formed linear or flaky scars.ConclusionThe self-made chronic wound closure device is effective in repairing complex scarred wounds of lower extremities, and it is easy to operate.